I've searched and searched and still cannot make up my mind. My question is, is going to a catted x-pipe worth the money, power, sound, and dealing with smog every two years? Also I want to know if I get my car tuned with a catted xpipe, will it mess up my tune when I put my stock midpipe up to smog it? Is it safe to load my stock tune on with the pulley combo? What are your guys ways to get your car passed other then paying someone to help you out. Any advice would help out a bunch guys. Thanks!
Calling all Californian Hi-flow and cattless midpipe owners
- Thread starter Fender34
- Start date
Mine passed the sniff test with my tune through the stock H-Pipe... Now I have a catted X-pipe! Sound is alot more agressive and louder, power depends on setup but you'll gain a few ponies.
I have an aftermarket mid pipe with high flow cats. My car is tuned for the setup I have in my sig and I pass smog just fine when I put the stocker back on. Just keep the stocker and swap it out every two years. Make sure you drive around in the stock H-pipe for about 30 minutes first, especially if it was sitting around in your garage for 2-years.
You can't pass with High flow's?
If that's the case then I am guessing long tube headers are out of the question.
If that's the case then I am guessing long tube headers are out of the question.
IMO, swapping the mid pipe every couple years gets old. (Or I'm just getting old; which ever. :lol: ) I did that with one of my past Mustangs. I like the fact that I can pull up to a test-only smog station with my Cobra and not have to worry about swapping anything out. I have a Magnaflow X-pipe that is designed to go behind the stock cats. Looks kinda like a '00R mid pipe.
With Bassani headers and catted X-pipe, I pass the sniffer on stock tune.
So are you saying that there is some sort of visual inspection that doesn't allow for an aftermarket pipe, even if it has cats? If that's the case, why would you spend the money on a catted mid-pipe at all? Just save the money and buy an off-road version, then swap in the stock one for inspection time. Here in MA we have to have the cats, but running an aftermarket version has never been an issue for me.
Man, do I ever love Florida.
most after market hi-flow hpipes only come with TWO high flow cats. Stock 03-04 cobras come with 4 cats, so that illigal allready by removing cats from a vehicle that takes 4 cats. Dont waste your money on a hi flow catted hpipe just buy an offraod h pipe and save the stock hpipe......trust me I feel like shit when I have to fail cars for modified shit. The first thing they usually tell me is (well your car doesnt have cats)lol......
People call this Kalifornia for a reason.
It doesn't stop with cats either. Unless a part has a CARB number, it is not legal regardless if what comes out of the tail pipe is clean. No intakes, no headers, no injectors, no return style fuel system, etc.
If you get caught on the streets without cats it is a HUGE fine. I've had LEOs look under my car before for cats. Not worth it.
:shrug:
Very good point............
Very good point............
That sucks! I'm not a fan of offroad pipes anyway, I was just suggesting it since only the stock pipe is acceptable for the inspection out there apparently. I personally run a catted Bassani setup, and that is acceptable here with the requirements. I screwed around for my whole young life trying to get my cars to pass, so I now run cats and the full egr setup even though it is concealed from view.
Is it simply the quantity of cats that is the issue, or is it that they are aftermarket? It seems illogical that it should even matter as long as it passes whatever standards are in place.
The only reason I do not want to go O/R is because it is too loud and will attracted unwanted. Many of my friends have been state ref. and it is not fun. BTW thanks everyone for the replies!
No u cant...at least legally. Any lt header or mid length is also not legal.
This is the best advice with the exception of lt cars..swapping lt isnt a quick job. My advice is alway leave it running so your cats dont cool down and u fail.
I see your point about wasting money however, a catted midpipe is a lot quieter than a o/r mid pipe. There is a visual and as mentioned before a 03/04 cobra is equipped with a 4 cat midpipe. It really depends who does the smog,some techs dont care or overlook having a after market midpipe. Technically the car may pass sniffer but is still not legal. Now here is what is going to suck for many cobra owners. These cars are getting older and will be subject to test only stations..those guys are by the book. They will fail your ass with two shakes of a lams tail, so save your stock mid. Lt cars u better be willinv to cought up 200 bucks and hope u dont get cought.
This is also correct...dont give any extra info to the tech..just act clueless and all should be well unless its test only,then pray.
Ive heard it is a big fine and they can impound the vehicle.
Last edited:
I don't run headers, and have the MRT 2 Cat H-pipe. My car has passed Ca smog testing every time, and actually runs super clean. It's at 595 rwhp with the Whipple. The trick to high flow cats is getting them HOT before testing. Once they are lit off, it's amazing how clean the tailpipe sample becomes.
As far as SMOG testing, it also depends on WHERE in Calif you live. If near a big city (Sacramento, Los Angeles, etc) they are considered "Enhanced SMOG test areas". The SMOG test is actually more involved in those locations. They may not base their cat inspection on the tech just peering under the vehicle looking for cats.
As far as SMOG testing, it also depends on WHERE in Calif you live. If near a big city (Sacramento, Los Angeles, etc) they are considered "Enhanced SMOG test areas". The SMOG test is actually more involved in those locations. They may not base their cat inspection on the tech just peering under the vehicle looking for cats.
Last edited:
From what I understand is its not illegal to go from 4 standard to two
high flow cats. The law is only against removing them completely (as a whole combination of parts) You will pass visual inspection with two high flow in lieu of 4 ford ones.
You likely wont pass sniffer, and if you do youll need a smog tech who knows how to do it, and even then its not a guarantee. We had the tech under mine with a blowtorch trying to get my bassani high flow X to pass. Not enough. A swap to a stock GT's midpipe and it blew roses. Two high flow cats cannot scrub enough to produce passing numbers. On the stock system each bank has 2 cats, one works to remove hydrocarbons, the other works to remove CO2. Now on a 2cat high flow system, you have one cat per bank thats already designed to flow better at the sake of emissions, and youre asking it todo the same job as two cats that it replaced. Not gonna happen in most cases. Maybe on a system where 1 cat was replaced by 1 high flow cat, but two standard to one high flow per bank is no bueno in the emissions standpoint.
And no, you cant simply lean out the tune, because then NOx will fail.
OP, I dont think the gains are worth it, unless you have it down to a science or a buddy with a lift (like I had at the time). Even then the gains from std midpipe to high flow catted X arent impressive, nor are they when going from std to catless IMO. Unless youre doing it for sound preference or youre at the level in which you do need to free up that much more exhaust flow. A pulley swap/tune/bolton terminator isnt worth it imo, california or not.
high flow cats. The law is only against removing them completely (as a whole combination of parts) You will pass visual inspection with two high flow in lieu of 4 ford ones.
You likely wont pass sniffer, and if you do youll need a smog tech who knows how to do it, and even then its not a guarantee. We had the tech under mine with a blowtorch trying to get my bassani high flow X to pass. Not enough. A swap to a stock GT's midpipe and it blew roses. Two high flow cats cannot scrub enough to produce passing numbers. On the stock system each bank has 2 cats, one works to remove hydrocarbons, the other works to remove CO2. Now on a 2cat high flow system, you have one cat per bank thats already designed to flow better at the sake of emissions, and youre asking it todo the same job as two cats that it replaced. Not gonna happen in most cases. Maybe on a system where 1 cat was replaced by 1 high flow cat, but two standard to one high flow per bank is no bueno in the emissions standpoint.
And no, you cant simply lean out the tune, because then NOx will fail.
OP, I dont think the gains are worth it, unless you have it down to a science or a buddy with a lift (like I had at the time). Even then the gains from std midpipe to high flow catted X arent impressive, nor are they when going from std to catless IMO. Unless youre doing it for sound preference or youre at the level in which you do need to free up that much more exhaust flow. A pulley swap/tune/bolton terminator isnt worth it imo, california or not.
Last edited:
I've never heard of that method to heat up a Cat. I'm not sure the catalyst inside would be thoroughly heated. ??
I always take the car out for a drive, and get it up to normal operating temp prior to heading to the SMOG test. And, right before I head to the test location I drive at a higher than normal RPM... like 2,500 in 3rd gear for a bit... to help heat up the Cats. It's never not passed the sniffer test.
I wonder though, maybe the Cats used in the MRT pipe are different (more affective) than the two from your Bassani?
Last edited:
Users who are viewing this thread
